Global Progress Towards Ending the Sexual Exploitation of Children
A global problem requires truly global solutions to address the sexual exploitation of children.
Indicators
Age of Consent
No
The age of sexual consent is 15 years for both girls and boys. The national legislation does provide for a close-in-age exemption for children "of a similar age and level of maturity".
Analysis of country legislation on age of sexual consent, 2024
Extraterritoriality & Extradition
Partial
Iceland has universal jurisdiction over SEC related offences and double criminality is not required to exercise extraterritorial jurisdiction over SEC related offences.
There is no specific provision on the extradition of SEC related offences in the national legislation besides Article 3 (4) of the Agreement between the EU and Norway and Iceland that specifically refers to SEC offences as extraditable offences. Double criminality is required for proceeding with extraditions for sexual offences against children, but it is lifted between Nordic States and between EU States if they are punishable in the issuing State by a custodial sentence or a detention order for a maximum period of at least three years.
Criminal Code,
Act No. 13/1984 on Extradition of Criminals and Other Assistance in Criminal Proceedings (The Extradition Act),
Act No. 51/2016 on the arrest and extradition of persons to and from Iceland for criminal offenses on the basis of an arrest warrant,
Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway on the surrender procedure between the Member States of the European Union and Iceland and Norway,
Act on Extradition of Criminals and Other Assistance in Criminal Matters, 1940 (status as of 2023), 1984 (status as of 2023), 2016 (status as of 2023), 2006, 1984 (status as of 2023)
CSAM Definition
Not Yet Assessed
Background Check Required
Not Yet Assessed
National Commitments
Not Yet Assessed
Child Advocacy Centers
Not Yet Assessed
SEC Police Unit
Not Yet Assessed
Protection Standards Travel and Tourism
Not Yet Assessed
Public SEC Case Data
Not Yet Assessed
Age of Consent Law is Appropriate
The age of sexual consent for both males and females is 18 and a close in age exemption (up to 3 years) is provided for consensual sexual relationships between adolescents.
The age of sexual consent is the legally defined age at which a person is considered mature enough to agree to sexual activity. The age of sexual consent varies across jurisdictions around the world and there is no international legal instrument establishing it, however various forms of advocacy have encouraged States to establish a minimum age under which engaging in sexual contact is considered a criminal offence. This is intended to prevent sexual contact with children and to prevent argument that the child consented as a defence.
Often national provisions related to the age of sexual consent include an exception, known as a close-in-age exemption, making consensual sexual activities between young people lawful if the partners are of similar ages and the age difference is not higher than a certain number of years.
To ensure that cases of child sexual exploitation do not go unpunished, ECPAT advocates for the age of sexual consent to be set at 18 for both males and females with a close-in-age exemption of 2-3 years provided in order to ensure young people are not penalised for consensual sexual acts with peers. The age from which the exemption applies should be established by States but may begin for young people somewhere between 12 and 16 years of age.
Yes The national legislation explicitly indicates that the age of sexual consent unequivocally is 18 for both males and females, with a close-in-age exemption for sexual acts between peers (of up to 3 years) is provided by law.